7/1 Hodges opener - Fishing with my kid on my bday....

So I knew that I wanted to go fishing on my birthday, so we decided to drag the tubes to Hodges for it's opener. I know it's not the lake it was in it's hay day by any stretch of the imagination (worked there a couple summers in the early 80s and fished it at least twice a week during that time). So keeping my expectations in check, we launched the tubes around Olive St. in Del Dios. My son pushed out a minute before me. When I make my second or so cast with a square bill, I hear fish on! and get to watch as my son battles and lands this nice one....on the fly....black bugger....in just a couple/few ft of water. I did remind him who's bday it was...MINE! lol...but that moment seriously made my day. Slow day for us overall though.....but he did get another one that was 3+ midday again out of super skinny water. I could only land some micro-bass and one grumpy bluegill. We didn't weigh this one, but thinking it was easy 5+ at 23"L. We rolled that number to a clean 6lb (could have been higher), but his new PB none the less. It was a good day

BTW...my "kid" is now 21 and a senior at CBU. Totally dedicated to fishing the fly.....and I'm now realizing just how long it's been since I out fished him! lol Back at it this coming Wednesday for the Barrett opener. Time for some redemption! .....but alas he will likely out-fish me there too! :0) Hopefully I added the below pic properly.

 

That would be a Cumberland tube. He really likes it. I think it's a well known and well liked choice of a few around here.

Yes Hodges was a zoo...not a good combo with slow fishing. But yesterday?.....it was worth it.